News & Media

So you’ve decided that your Web site needs an overhaul. Before you start work, however, you and your Web design firm need to do a bit of planning. Going off building a web site half-cocked is a sure fire recipe for disaster.

It never ceases to amaze me how few companies have a suitable marketing plan, let alone one that is actively maintained. Many companies operate under the myth that their overall marketing plan can simply include an online component. The Internet however, is not just another channel. It offers an entirely new way of doing business. It deserves – and necessitates – a separate, in-depth marketing plan.

Building a trusting relationship with your Web site visitors starts with the common sense approach known as “permission marketing.” The idea behind permission marketing is to get the customer or prospect to volunteer to receive your email newsletters and special offers. This is also known as opt-in. These “hand-raisers” are a lot more likely to not only tolerate receiving your emails, but also to respond favorably to them.

In the case of operating an online presence and the subsequent legal issues that follow, what you don’t know may very well hurt you. Operating in the virtual world entails the same – or potentially greater – legal risks as operating in the real world. These risks take many forms: copyright infringement, trademark infringement, copyright ownership, liability, breach of confidentiality, libel and slander, just to name a few.

The Criteria Matrix will help you rate the mock-up designs and objectively choose the winning design from the group. Use the following Criteria Matrix as a starting point. Determine your criteria and the importance of each criterion (weighting factor), taking into account the goals and objectives of your site.

Q: If you want to use the Google Directory to find out your PageRank score, how do you know what category Google has put you in to start this process?
A: Simply start at the Google Directory home page at http:/directory.google.com and conduct a search for your company name or brand name. If you are listed in the Directory, you’ll see the Category you’re listed in as part of your search listing. Click on that category name to go directly to that category page of the Directory.